Maddie1003 Cinephile Gracie Hart (Sandra Bullock) is a tough-as nails FBI agent, quite capable in her field but lacking everywhere else. When a mission goes awry, she is forced to go undercover as a contestant in Miss United States Beauty Pageant in order to prove her worth. Now this is especially difficult for those cops(in this case Gracie) who lacks all "feminine graces."Here Gracie is not one of those 'cool' cops who can pin her hair with one hand and stab the enemy with the other. She is the one who can match her male colleagues in boxing, makes witty comments, wears baggy jeans, cannot manage her unruly hair, cannot walk in heels, chews loudly, and snorts when she laughs. Sandra Bullock is effortlessly good as Gracie and steals the show with her over-the top antics. She provides all the laughs in the movie.As for the story line, well, it is not as amazing as Sandra. It is pretty entertaining to watch her. You can overlook the story line when she comes on screen.Rating: 6.5/10

Python Hyena Miss Congeniality (2000): Dir: Donald Petrie / Cast: Sandra Bullock, Benjamin Bratt, Michael Cain, William Shatner, Candice Bergen: Comedy about divert personality with F.B.I. agent Sandra Bullock. She is assigned to go undercover as Miss New Jersey due to a bomb threat. Enter Michael Caine as an image consultant set to get her ready. Major flaw regards predicting the villain, which the screenwriter makes no attempt to conceal. Pointless action opener hits formula full force. Director Donald Petrie is backed by colorful sets but he is dealing with material that has been done to death. The pageant theme was done far better and funnier in the underrated Drop Dead Gorgeous. Petrie previously made The Associate as well as the low grade My Favorite Martian crap fest. Bullock is funny and certainly present humour but she is introduced in a standard opening then we are suppose to believe that she is hot or not due too her outfit. Caine is also a capable actor but his role as the consultant is pretty standard. Benjamin Bratt plays a moron cop who couldn't see past the makeup. He will notice Bullock in the aftermath, which is pretty typical of these films. William Shatner is featured to overact and he does so non stop, as well as Candice Bergen as a former pageant winner who is less of a winner here. Satire of pageants bludgeoned in blatant contrivance. Score: 4 / 10

dougdoepke Fitfully funny romp that suffers from slack direction, sloppy script, and transparent female lead. Sharper editing might have made up for director's lack of comic timing, but there is no finesse for Sandra Bullock's ham-fisted attempt at comedy. It's one of those feel-good-about- everyone movies that first offends and then takes it all back in predictably lumpy finale. Should have been a lot funnier than it is, and compares badly with similarly themed Legally Blonde, a feminist movie with real charm and wit. For genuinely amusing and incisive look at beauty pageant industry, check out Michael Ritchie's 1975 film: Smile.

bowmanblue Sandra Bullock has been known to be a little 'typecast' sometimes – always playing the 'loveable, but kooky' leading lady. Okay, so despite a few attempts to move away from that image, 'loveable and kooky' is what she does best. And she does it very well here.In 'Miss Congeniality' she plays an FBI agent who has to go undercover in the Miss America beauty contest in order to protect its participants from someone threatening the event. I recently watched the X-files – another show centring on FBI agents. I couldn't help but laugh at the difference the 'Bureau' is portrayed in both shows. In the X-files they're all serious and professional, in 'Miss Congeniality' they kind of behave like frat boys at a college party.But then that's what Miss Congeniality is. It's not meant to be taken seriously, nor does it ever try. It's one of those perfect films that you can simply sit down and relax with. You won't need much brainpower to appreciate it. Sandra Bullock is as lovable and endearing as she always is and you won't care that the whole concept is kind of silly. How anyone fails to notice that Sandra Bullock isn't attractive, just because she wears glasses and doesn't brush her hair is beyond me!Although Bullock naturally carries the show as she's transformed from 'tom-boy FBI agent' to glamorous beauty queen (a process that can apparently be achieved overnight – but, again, never mind, eh?), it's worth noting that Michael Caine also has a role to play. He comes close to stealing every scene as the uptight Englishman the FBI have employed to mould her into 'Miss New Jersey.' There are no surprises plot-wise. You'll probably guess who the bad guys – really – are and there's the natural romantic sub-plot thrown in, just because. But, as long as you're only looking for pure entertainment, you probably won't care.This is a great movie to watch with other people. Sit back, crack open the popcorn, put your brain on hold and enjoy. Miss Congeniality is a classic in its own, laid back, easy-going league. No, it'll never be remembered in the same breath as the true cinematic greats, such as the Godfather etc, but then it's not meant to be. Just remember that while you're watching Sandra stumble into things and trip over on her heels.